Michael B. Jordan Eyed for Major Role in INDEPENDENCE DAY 2

It appears that rising star Michael B. Jordan may be fighting aliens in the near future. The Wrap reports that the actor is being eyed for a major role in director Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi sequel Independence Day 2. The specifics of his role are not revealed, but Emmerich previously stated that the follow-up would be taking place 20 years after the original film and would follow the children of the adult Independence Day characters. As such, it’s not exactly a stretch to imagine Jordan playing the son of Will Smith‘s character, welcoming aliens to Earth on behalf of a new generation. Smith’s involvement in the follow-up is unclear at the moment, as his status seems to change with each subsequent story. Hit the jump for more.

The Wrap’s report notes that Jordan has yet to receive an offer from 20th Century Fox, so the casting is still in the early stages. That being said, this would definitely be a big career get for Jordan. The actor has earned deservedly high praise for his starring role in this summer’s Fruitvale Station and first came to prominence with scene-stealing work on The Wire, Friday Night Lights, and Parenthood. He proved adept at genre-oriented material in Chronicle and is currently poised to play the Human Torch in director Josh Trank’s Fantastic Four reboot, also for Fox.

Jordan recently agreed to reteam with his Fruitvale director Ryan Coogler on the Rocky spinoff Creed, though it’s unclear when exactly production will begin. Emmerich recently suggested that Independence Day2will probably be pushed off its 2015 release date to 2016, which means production might not get underway until late next year. Jordan will be seen early next year in the romantic comedy That Awkward Momentopposite Zac Efron and Miles Teller.